An engineering biology approach to automated workflow and biodesign

Area of Science:

• Engineering biology
• Laboratory automation
• Biofoundries

Background:

• Automation in laboratories increases throughput and reproducibility.
• Automated workflows require extensive, detailed instruction sets.
• Implementing automation necessitates precise task sequencing and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an approach for automating laboratory workflows in biofoundries.
• To address challenges associated with implementing automated laboratory processes.
• To present a flexible solution applicable to single and distributed workflows.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing directed graphs to represent workflows.
• Employing orchestrators for workflow execution.
• Leveraging existing standards for integration and compatibility.

Main Results:

• A flexible and scalable automated workflow system has been developed and trialed.
• The system successfully manages complex tasks, data collection, and analysis.
• The approach is adaptable for both localized and distributed biomanufacturing.

Conclusions:

• The described approach offers a robust solution for laboratory automation in biofoundries.
• This methodology supports the Design, Build, Test, and Learn paradigm in biodesign.
• The system demonstrates potential for advancing biomanufacturing through automation.